Preparation of nitro-substituted diphenyl ethers

A method for the preparation of a nitro-substituted diphenyl ether which comprises reacting an alkali metal salt of phenol possessing at least one moiety on the ring of said phenol selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, nitro and alkylthio moieties with a nitrosubstituted halobenzene having the halo moiety substituted to the aromatic ring of said nitro-substituted halobenzene to effect the arylation of said phenol in the presence of a phase-transfer agent represented by the formula

• R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4 Z.sup.+ Y.sup.-
• wherein R is equal to an alkyl or aralkyl moiety possessing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, Z is equal to nitrogen or phosphorous and Y is a halide, at a reaction temperature of about 50.degree. to about 200.degree. C. for a period of time equivalent to about 0.5 to about 20 hours.